Resource Center

Session Description: This session delved into the most effective methods for training technicians to maintain today’s fleets of complex technology. We focused on proven strategies, such as starting with the fundamentals and progressing to hands-on training. Additionally, we discussed the value of mentorship and apprenticeship to facilitate the retention of the trained frontline workforce.

Moderator:

• Jason Macumber: Senior Advisor of Workforce Development and Technology – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Russell Anderson: Director Bus Maintenance Training – California Transit Works!
• Staci Hanna: Maintenance Training Manager – TriMet
• Brian Markey: Chief Executive Officer – Custom Training Aids Inc.

MC24 How Techs Learn slides

Transitioning to a ZEB fleet requires thorough planning and consideration of the elements that are unique to ZEBs, such as range limitations, higher vehicle costs, charging and/or hydrogen infrastructure, and operator and maintenance workforce development. Failing to plan around these issues may result in added costs for bus and infrastructure purchases, project delays, service concerns, and operational challenges as low-no become a larger and larger portion of the fleet.

A properly developed Low-No Transition Plan can help overcome these challenges. This Guidebook is intended to give public transit fleet operators the knowledge necessary to plan for a full fleet transition to low-no technologies.

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Link to Access Guidebook

Session Description: Employment in public transportation is affected by broad economic and demographic dynamics, but honing in on transit workforce trends can be challenging. The Transit Workforce Center created the Transit Workforce Data Dashboard to distill relevant data points from national datasets. In this session, TWC highlighted specific employment patterns and challenges in transit-related occupations and panelists covered research and trends in national and agency-level datasets.

Moderator: 

• Douglas Nevins: Senior Researcher – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Dr. Asha Weinstein Agrawal: Director of Education – Mineta Transportation Institute
• Kenneth Blacks: Transportation Program Analyst – Federal Transit Administration
• Michaela Boneva: Research Associate – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
• Dr. Shayna Gleason: Senior Researcher – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Session Description: Providing structured workforce development programs for frontline public transit workers is of critical importance for transit agencies as they work to retain employees, integrate new technologies, and fill vacant positions. Attendees of this session learned how to use funding available to transit agencies for workforce development, such as the additional funding awarded under the Low-No/Bus and Bus Facilities grant program, and heard from agencies about how they have utilized grant funds and other FTA funding to develop and implement training programs.

Moderator:

• Karitsa Holdzkom: Senior Policy Analyst – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Zachary Bodle: Assistant Business Agent Maintenance – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 (CA)
• John Bodnar: Director, Office of Transit Programs – Federal Transit Administration
• Jason Macumber: Senior Advisor of Workforce Development and Technology – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
• Steve Jovel: Operations Manager, Workforce Development – Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)
• Jeff Rosenberg: Director of Government Affairs – Amalgamated Transit Union
• Mauro Varela: Treasurer – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1277 (CA)
• Kristin Warsinski: CEO – Riverside Transit Agency (CA)

MC24 Workforce Development Funding slides

Session Description: De-escalation, conflict avoidance, and conflict resolution are integral to an operator’s job. Operators primarily work alone, and the driver’s seat is an extremely vulnerable position. In this session, we honestly and productively explored the ways in which operators can deal with all manner of attacks, physical and verbal, and analyzed approaches to address the range of challenges that come with this profession. Presenters discussed different training models used to support operators with their challenges and engaged with the audience in considering options that can make a positive impact.

Moderator:

• Maurice Beard: Senior Workforce Development Advisor – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Jamaine “G” Gibson: Director of Apprenticeships and Workforce Development – Amalgamated Transit Union
• Tricia Prince: Safety and Training Manager – Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority
• Lakecha Strickland: President – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1212 (TN)
• Melissa Thomas: Transportation Training Manager – Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA)
• Lisa Rae Vickery: Deputy Director of Operations Development – Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

MC24 Conflict Resolution and De-Escalation slides

Session Description: Strong partnerships between transit and local colleges across the country currently support recruitment, retention, apprenticeships and other career advancement initiatives developed by agencies and their workforce partners. Presenters in this session reviewed and discussed several different models of industry-education partnerships, focusing on how to establish productive working relationships with local colleges to advance workforce development goals.

Moderator:

• Patricia Greenfield: Senior Director, Workforce Education – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Jamaine “G” Gibson: Director of Apprenticeships and Workforce Development – Amalgamated Transit Union
• Jason Abbott: Executive Director, Workforce Operations – Cuyahoga Community College
• Celeste Chavis: Interim Chair and Professor, Transportation & Urban Infrastructure Studies – Morgan State University (Baltimore)
• Rich Diaz: Workforce Development Coordinator – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1575
• Rob Gamble: Sr Workforce and Academic Strategist – California Transit Works!

MC24 College Connection slides

Session Description: In this engaging session attendees explored strategies for bridging the skills gaps of new hires and heard from presenters as they shared how they identified critical needs and implemented solutions. Participants took part in a working group to provide feedback on national resources being developed in key areas such as mechanical, electrical, computer skills, shop math, and technical writing.

Moderator: 

• Kristen Ribaudo: Senior Instructional Designer – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Michael Hanssen: Supervisor of Technical Skills Training Washington – Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
• Ona Veda: Manager, Rail Training and Development – Metro Transit (MN)

MC24 Successful Career Pathways slides

Session Description: In this workshop, participants explored how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can revolutionize training and development efforts. We explored practical applications of AI throughout the ADDIE model and advanced usages of AI for helping trainers synthesize information from large datasets. Attendees also learned about the ethical considerations surrounding AI in training and how to effectively use AI tools by improving prompt engineering to craft content.

Moderator:

• Arnett Powell: Adjunct Instructional Designer – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Addie Khanu: Instructional Designer – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
• Jeff Pratt: Manager of Training – Bi-State Development/Metro Transit (St. Louis)
• Michael Tomlinson: Solution Architect – Xpan

MC24 Integrating AI in Training slides